Saskatoon Civic Operations Centre

A bit of history is needed, to go back in time a little ways, to the time when the bus barns civic operations centre site was decided upon, and construction south west of the City of Saskatoon was in its infancy.

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A bit of history is needed, to go back in time a little ways, to the time when the bus barns civic operations centre site was decided upon, and construction south west of the City of Saskatoon was in its infancy. The City of Saskatoon Civic Operations Centre construction began north of Valley Road, and west of the City landfill

People who knew about the wooded area north of Cedar Vlla Road and to the west of the construction site wandered around in the forest sad and abject. They would meet on the paths in the forest speaking often to the others about the natural beauty of the area, attesting to their appreciations that there was a forest of such magnificence glory and splendour so close to the growing city of Saskatoon. The sadness stemmed from uncertainty as to when the time would come and the bull dozers would arrive to raze the forest to the ground taking away this amazing beauty and wonderland. They felt because the land was abandoned and there were no signs posted, that the wooded area did not belong to anybody, and it was just a matter of time before it would be gone. They came to treasure the last moments to be had within the spectacular embrace of the White Spruce, the American Elms, the Colorado Blue Spruce so stately and fine. They admired the saplings, the Carragana hedge row, the Black Capped Chicakadees flittering about branch to branch. Those who knew of the wooded area were dismal and resigned that this land which no one owned would soon be underneath a concrete pad, and no one would be enchanted again by the all empowering expansive appeal of eye-catching hoar frost painting spectacular designs in the landscape on spruce boughs.

What could be done? How could anyone have the ability to respond to such a situation? Facts slowly began to emerge. It turned out that on research of the particular land location, that no, it was not land which belonged to nobody. And on reflection, how could land so close to a City not belong to anybody at all. The land was owned by the City of Saskatoon. So with this new piece of information; was this good or bad. This could still mean that the wooded area may remain a forest, or it may be part of the Civic Operations Centre land use.

Further research revealed that the Civic Operations Centre did in fact stop short of the wooded area. Construction would not proceed where the trees were planted. But why? Would the trees and forest be safe with another expansion of the city? Still folks who met in the forest, those who walked in the wooded area did not believe the tale. They said pooh! We don’t believe you, if it was owned by the City, there would be signs, this land is not owned by anybody, and the general consensus was, “I can do anything here I want to here.”

People drove their snowmobiles here, as urban dwelling land owners have a very hard time finding area to drive their snowmobiles. Folks who owned All Terrain Vehicles and 4x4s would drive their vehicles in the bush, as again, city dwelling residents have a hard time mudding and tearing around on city streets, and this land was “not owned by anybody”, so why not here? So without traffic lights, rules or regulations, people walked and drove around the bush trying not to crash into one another.

But those who came to enjoy the voiceless and alluring voice of the forest were relieved. The forest and the Civic Operations Centre were to be neighbours. The trees would not need to lay down their lives for any construction. The storm had passed, those who met in the woods were incredulous and everyone sighed a breath of relief. But confusion still reigned. This was not like any City of Saskatoon land they had ever seen before It was a forest and absolutely amazing, and delightful, but there were no signs installed and trash was abundant everywhere, the City had abandoned it, but why? Why would the city not have signs at a forest as alive, as expansive and as fantastic as the “wooded area” is? Why was there trash around every corner when there was such potential for a spectacular park without work or effort? This site was already mature, and landscaped, and spell-binding!

This generation may either be the last to exist in any semblance of a civilised world or that it will be the first to have the vision, the bearing and the greatness to say, ‘I will have nothing to do with this destruction of life, I will play no part in this devastation of the land, I am determined to live and …today it is the duty of every thinking being to live, and to serve not only his own day and generation, but also generations unborn by helping to restore and maintain the green glory of the forests of the earth. Richard St. Barbe Baker

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Author: stbarbebaker

This website is about the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area - an urban regional park of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The hosts are the stewards of the afforestation area. The afforestation area received its name in honour of the great humanitarian, Richard St. Barbe Baker.
Richard St. Barbe Baker (9 October 1889 – 9 June 1982) was an English forester, environmental activist and author, who contributed greatly to worldwide reforestation efforts. As a leader, he founded an organization, Men of the Trees, still active today, whose many chapters carry out reforestation internationally. {Wikipedia}
Email is StBarbeBaker AT yahoo.com to reach the Stewards of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
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Location

On Cedar Villar Road west of the City of Saskatoon Civic Operations Centre (Bus Barns)
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is north of the land for Chappell Marsh Conservation Area.
Wikimapia Map with afforestation area location:
Google Maps with Off Leash area location pin at parking lot:
Parking is at the South West Off Leash Dog Park Parking Lot (dog park is within the afforestation area). Best access is by vehicle.
Coordinates 52° 06' 106° 45' Customizer.

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